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Lyrics & meaning

Kadavulukku Manithanidam

From Yaen · 1970

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
Sarala
Music director
T. R. Pappa
Details
Yaen1970

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kadavulukku manidhanidam pagai illaiGod holds no hatred towards mankind.
Avan kanakkai mattum purindhu kollaTo understand His calculations alone,
Vagai illai …mozhiyillaiThere is no way... there is no language.
Kadavulukku manidhanidam pagai illaiGod holds no hatred towards mankind.
Avan kanakkai mattum purindhu kollaTo understand His calculations alone,
Vagai illai …mozhiyillaiThere is no way... there is no language.
Female
Kaatchigalai munnaal vaithuHe places beautiful sights in front of us,
Kannai paripaanAnd snatches away our vision.
Avan kadanthu poga vazhiyai vaithuHe sets a path to cross,
Kaalgalai ketpaanAnd demands our legs in return.
Female
Pasiyillatha vayitrin munnaeBefore a stomach that feels no hunger,
Unavai padaippaanHe serves a grand feast.
Sottrai paarthirukkum ezhai munnaeBefore a poor person longing for a bowl of rice,
Varumaiyai veippaanHe lays down sheer poverty.
Varumaiyai veippaanHe lays down sheer poverty.
Varumaiyai veippaanHe lays down sheer poverty.
Female
Kadavulukku manidhanidam pagai illaiGod holds no hatred towards mankind.
Avan kanakkai mattum purindhu kollaTo understand His calculations alone,
Vagai illai …mozhiyillaiThere is no way... there is no language.
Female
Thaeipiraikku pinnaalae valar piraiThe waxing moon follows the waning moon,
Endha jeevanukkum vaazhkkai undu oru muraiEvery living soul has life given only once.
Thaeipiraikku pinnaalae valar piraiThe waxing moon follows the waning moon,
Endha jeevanukkum vaazhkkai undu oru muraiEvery living soul has life given only once.
Saaindha maram thazhaipadhundu than varaiA fallen tree sprouts foliage again in due time,
Saaindha maram thazhaipadhundu than varaiA fallen tree sprouts foliage again in due time,
Thambhi thairiyam thaan vendum kaalam varum varaiBrother, all you need is courage until your time comes,
Kaalgal arum varai …un kaalgal varum varaiUntil weary legs tire out... until your own strength arrives.
Female
Kadavulukku manidhanidam pagai illaiGod holds no hatred towards mankind.
Avan kanakkai mattum purindhu kollaTo understand His calculations alone,
Vagai illai …mozhiyillaiThere is no way... there is no language.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic philosophical song written by Kannadasan reflects on the inscrutable nature of divine will and fate. It posits that God has no enmity toward humanity, yet His grand design and calculations remain entirely beyond human comprehension and logic. The song highlights life's paradoxes—such as placing food before the satiated and poverty before the hungry—while ultimately offering a message of hope and resilience. It encourages the listener to remain patient and courageous, reminding us that just as a waxing moon follows a waning one and a fallen tree regrows, hard times will inevitably give way to better days.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Kadavulukku / Avan kanakkai

The second consonant 'da' matches across lines, creating a classic Tamil rhythmic flow.

Antithesis / Irony

Pasiyillatha vayitrin munnae / Unavai padaippaan

Contrasting life's cruel paradoxes where food is offered to the unhungry, while the hungry poor are met with poverty.

Metaphor

Thaeipiraikku pinnaalae valar pirai

Using the phases of the moon (waning and waxing moon) as a metaphor for the inevitable ups and downs of human life.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Vagai illai …mozhiyillai

The repetition of the suffix 'illai' at line endings establishes a poignant poetic rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is from the 1970 Tamil film 'Yaen', starring Ravichandran and Jayanthi. The lyrics were penned by the legendary poet Kannadasan, renowned for writing philosophical songs exploring themes of karma, destiny, and resilience in Tamil cinema.

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Kadavulukku Manithanidam Lyrics | English Translation | Meaning | Isaimozhi